9/21/12

I have known about three player chess for some time, but just never have managed to find one for sale. Just as well, because arranging to play with two other players at the same time might not be that easy. I must say that that this looks like fun though, but I wonder at the complexities of the game!! War in an of itself is a complex thing; being both predictable and surprising at the same time. Here is an example from the old testament...

Genesis, Chapter 14

1 It happened in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim, 2 that they made war with Bera, king of Sodom, and with Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Admah, and Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar). 3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 7 They returned, and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the, that lived in Hazazon Tamar. 8 The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim; 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.

War has been on my mind lately, because the Amish in Pennsylvania do not participate in it for any reason. With them, it is a matter of faith and frankly, I am impressed by their convictions. How much death and destruction has been the result of warfare? The ancestors of the Amish (the Anabaptists) paid dearly for those beliefs, as thousands upon thousands of them died at the hands of the Roman Catholic church because they would not submit to either a King or an organized religion. War is the ultimate failure to listen to others and to compromise. It is wrong on so many levels and evil in the extreme. May God grant us the conviction to be peacemakers and the knowledge that we are to have only one king in our lives and that one abides in the heavens.

2Co 1:1 Paul, an
apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our
brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the
saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

2Co 1:2 Grace to you
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Co 1:3 Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and
God of all comfort;

2Co 1:4 who comforts us
in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are
in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are
comforted by God.

2Co 1:5 For as the
sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds
through Christ.

2Co 1:6 But if we are
afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted,
it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of
the same sufferings which we also suffer.

2Co 1:7 Our hope for
you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the
sufferings, so also are you of the comfort.

2Co 1:8 For we don't
desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction
which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly,
beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.

2Co 1:9 Yes, we
ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we
should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,

2Co 1:10 who delivered
us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our
hope that he will also still deliver us;

2Co 1:11 you also
helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the
gift bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by many
persons on your behalf.

2Co 1:12 For our
boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness
and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God
we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

2Co 1:13 For we write
no other things to you, than what you read or even acknowledge, and I
hope you will acknowledge to the end;

2Co 1:14 as also you
acknowledged us in part, that we are your boasting, even as you also
are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

2Co 1:15 In this
confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might
have a second benefit;

2Co 1:16 and by you to
pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to
be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea.

2Co 1:17 When I
therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things
that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me
there should be the "Yes, yes" and the "No, no?"

2Co 1:18 But as God is
faithful, our word toward you was not "Yes and no."

2Co 1:19 For the Son of
God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus,
and Timothy, was not "Yes and no," but in him is "Yes."

2Co 1:20 For however
many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes."
Therefore also through him is the "Amen," to the glory of
God through us.

2Co 1:21 Now he who
establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

2Co 1:22 who also
sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

2Co 1:23 But I call God
for a witness to my soul, that I didn't come to Corinth to spare you.

2Co 1:24 Not that we
have lordship over your faith, but are fellow workers with you for
your joy. For you stand firm in faith.

"THE EPISTLE TO TITUS"
Chapter ThreeOBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To review responsibilities Christians have toward those in authority
and others in general
2) To consider how one is saved by God's mercy, through the washing of
regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit
3) To notice the emphasis on being careful to maintain good works,
while avoiding things that are unprofitable and useless (including
some individuals)
SUMMARY
In this final chapter Paul instructs Titus to remind the brethren
concerning their duties toward those in authority and men in general
(1-2). Exhortations to gentleness and humility toward all men is made
with a reminder that we too were once like those in the world (3). We
have been saved, not by our own works of righteousness, but by the
mercy of God who saved us through the washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit (4-5). The Spirit has been poured out
abundantly on us, so that we who are justified might become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life (6-7). Paul also wants Titus to
affirm constantly that those who have believed in God should be
diligent in their good works (8). At the same time, foolish disputes
and divisive men are to be avoided, for such are unprofitable and
useless (9-11).
The epistle closes with personal remarks and greetings. Titus is
encouraged to come to Nicopolis as soon as Artemas or Tychicus have
arrived, for Paul has chosen to winter there (12). In the meantime,
Titus is to send Zenas and Apollos on their journey with haste (13).
Yet another exhortation is given to have the brethren learn to maintain
good works, meeting urgent needs, so they may not be unfruitful. Paul
then passes along greetings to Titus from those with him, and sends
similar greetings to those who love the brethren (13-14). A final
benediction regarding grace ends the letter (15).
OUTLINEI. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BRETHREN IN GENERAL (1-11)A. CONCERNING PROPER CONDUCT (1-2)
1. Toward those in authority (1)
a. Be subject to and obey rulers and authorities
b. Be ready for every good work
2. Toward all men (2)
a. Speak evil of no one
b. Be peaceable, gentle, showing humility to all
B. REASONS TO HEED SUCH EXHORTATIONS (3-11)
1. In view of our past conduct (3)
a. We were once foolish, disobedient and deceived
b. We served various lust and pleasures
c. We lived in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another
2. In view of our salvation (4-7)
a. We were saved according to God's kindness, love and mercy,
not by works of righteousness which we have done (4-5)
b. We were saved through the washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit (5-7)
1) Whom God poured out abundantly through Jesus our Savior
2) That being justified by grace we should become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life
3. In view of what is good and profitable (8)
a. Those who have believed in God should be careful to
maintain good works
b. This is a faithful saying, and should be affirmed
constantly
4. In view of what is unprofitable and useless (9-11)
a. Foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings
about the law are to be avoided (9)
b. A divisive man is to be rejected after two admonitions
(10-11)
1) For such is warped and sinning
2) And is self-condemned
II. CONCLUDING REMARKS (12-15)A. FINAL INSTRUCTIONS (12-14)
1. To meet him at Nicopolis, after the arrival of Artemas or
Tychicus (12)
2. To send Zenas and Apollos on their journey with haste, lacking
nothing (13)
3. To aid others in learning to maintain good works, meeting
urgent needs, so as not to be unfruitful (14)
B. FINAL GREETINGS, AND A PRAYER (15)
1. Greetings from those with Paul
2. Greetings to those who love the brethren in the faith
3. Grace be with you all. Amen.
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Instructions for the brethren in general (1-11)
- Concluding remarks (12-15)
2) What are the responsibilities of Christians toward rulers and
authorities? (1)
- To be subject to them, to obey, to be ready for every good work
3) How should Christians conduct themselves toward men in general? (2)
- To speak evil of none, to be peaceable, gentle, and humble toward
all
4) What should help us to be gentle and humble toward others? (3)
- We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deceived
- We had served various lusts and pleasures
- We had been hateful and hating one another
5) What else should remind us to be humble? (4-5)
- We were saved, not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to the kindness, love and mercy of God
6) How has God in mercy saved us? (5)
- Through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Spirit
7) Why has God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us? (6-7)
- That having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life (cf. Ga 4:6-7; Ro 8:15-17)
8) What faithful saying did Paul want Titus to affirm constantly? (8)
- Those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good
works
9) What was Titus to avoid? Why? (9)
- Foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about
the law
- They are unprofitable and useless
10) Who was Titus to reject after two admonitions? Why? (10-11)
- A divisive man
- Such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned
11) Where did Paul want Titus to join him? (12)
- Nicopolis
12) Who was Titus to send along on their journey with haste, lacking
nothing? (13)
- Zenas the lawyer and Apollos
13) What did Paul want Christians to learn? (14)
- To maintain good works, to meet urgent needs
14) Who sent greetings to Titus? Who did Paul send greetings to? (15)
- All who with him
- Those who love the brethren in the faith
15) What prayer did Paul offer as he closed this letter? (15)
- Grace be with you all. Amen.